Chapter Text
University.
Or as Harry now thought of it: college.
It was supposed to be a new and exciting experience; one in which young adults leave home to further their education, to get closer to having the knowledge and skills they need for any desired future career. To Harry, it was more terrifying than exciting.
High school hadn’t exactly been all that he had hoped it would be. Yes, there were school dances, parties, drinking, and drugs; but he hadn’t been part of any of those events. To be honest, he was glad about that. He wasn’t the type of person to enjoy drinking or doing drugs. Not that he would know, since he’s never partaken in either of those things before. He could just tell that he wouldn’t like it. People act strange whenever they drink or do drugs; act as though they are completely different people, which is not what Harry wants to happen to himself. Being in control, being able to make decisions with a clear head: that was what Harry liked. He liked being in control of his body, his mind, and his life.
That’s why he decided to go to college in America, rather than University in Cheshire. His mom and sister weren’t overly supportive at first. They were unsure of how he would get on since they had never traveled to America before, not even for a day in his entire life of 18 years. But not having been there before only made him want to go to college there even more. He seriously wanted to get out of this stupid town. He didn’t want to see anyone from high school, or anyone from church. He just wanted to see new faces and new places.
He had done a lot of research, trying to find out where he wanted to go, which college he wanted to attend. He didn’t want to go to a big city. He always felt like he belonged in a smaller town, somewhere that had good schools and parks. He always wanted a family, but it’s too early in his life to even be thinking about that. But a small town always helped to inspire him; made him feel more at home. He just didn’t want to stay at home anymore. He wanted to make a new home for himself in a new place, a new country even.
He decided on moving to California. He always wanted to go there, but never had the guts to do so. This was the perfect opportunity. So he found a small college, in a small town, and decided to apply. He wasn’t sure if he should apply for other schools as a backup or not. He ended up only applying to the one school. He decided that even if he didn’t get in, he would move to California anyway. He would be able to apply again the next semester, and hopefully could get in then. Honestly, he didn’t feel that worried. His grades were great and he had extracurricular activities under his belt. When the letter finally came from America, he couldn’t have been more thrilled.
He got in.
He was ecstatic. He didn’t think much about the leaving home or leaving his friends. He didn’t really have friends. Only a couple people here and there that talked to him. But once he came out as gay in his hometown, things changed. There were still a few nice people in his high school that had talked to him, but there were those students that were mean; so mean that he had decided to leave Holmes Chapel, hoping to never come back.
So that’s how he found himself packing up everything he owns and shipping it to America. When he was done, he only had a couple weeks left of staying at home before he was starting school in America, which meant that he had only a couple more weeks of what felt like torture.
Time went by faster than expected though. He found himself saying goodbye and flying to America, to California, in no time. He had taken the flight over by himself; his mom and sister had been there in Holmes Chapel to send him off, which was nice. He was glad to see them one last time because he loved them; probably wouldn’t see them for a long while, seeing as he didn’t want to come back to Holmes Chapel once he left. He slept half of the flight, then read a book, before watching a couple movies before he reached the airport in California. Before he was at his new school, he had to take a city bus to campus and his new home for the better part of the next 4 or more years.
This was the first time in a school where he could make his own decisions and the first time he was in America. It had been a long and hard decision; well, it hadn’t been that hard. He had loved Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, but it was getting old. He never felt excited to be there; wasn’t passionate about anything around him. He wanted to just get away from home, to make it in this world for himself. So he came here to America, to a small town in California. He didn’t want to be in a big city, or surrounded by thousands of people. He was a shy person; one who didn’t really like to be bombarded by other people. Never did he have tons of friends. So the University in this small town, know to him now as UTC, was the perfect decision for him.
Walking to the information desk at the main building he was dropped off in front of by the taxi to ask for directions to his dorm. He didn’t want to get lost and he wasn’t afraid of asking for help. There was a nice girl about his age that helped direct him, and he thanked her politely before turning to leave. He had been blind to the flirty looks the girl had been giving him, and didn’t see her pout as he walked away.
Making it to his room wasn’t overly challenging, or at least not with the directions he had been given. He couldn’t wait to get to his room, and take a nap. He was so thankful he had gotten a single room. He was a pretty shy person and liked his alone time, so sharing a room with someone he hadn’t met before was about the most nerve-wracking thing for him. But his mom and Robin were well enough off to be able to pay for full tuition and a single room. He would forever be grateful for their help with college.
Stopping outside his door, room 669 of Brookes Hall, he let a smile spread across his face. Stepping inside he noticed that all the stuff he had shipped over was already there. He was glad nothing got lost or stolen from Cheshire to California; at least nothing that he could see from just glancing at the boxes, furniture, and such. The rest of the night he spent unpacking and getting his stuff ready for classes starting the next day. When he went to bed that night, after eating alone in the dining hall in his building, he just hoped the first day of college and college in general was all it was cracked up to be.